A novel Fe(II)/diaryl prolinol catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with alkenes

A novel Fe(II)/diaryl prolinol catalyzed asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with alkenes has been developed. In the presence of FeCl₂ (10 mol %) and α,α-bis(3,5-bistrifluoromethylphenyl)prolinol L1 (10 mol %), [3+2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with electronic-deficient olefins underwent smoothly in CH₃CN at room temperature to generate the desired endo-adducts in moderate to good yields and enantioselectivities. This is the first example of Fe(II)/N,O-ligand (L1) catalyzed 1,3-dipolar enantioselective cycloaddition reaction of azomethine ylides.     

Multicomponent formation route to a new class of oxygen-based 1,3-dipoles and the modular synthesis of furans

A new class of phosphorus-containing 1,3-dipoles can be generated by the multicomponent reaction of aldehydes, acid chlorides and the phosphonite PhP(catechyl). These 1,3-dipoles are formally cyclic tautomers of simple Wittig-type ylides, where the angle strain and moderate nucleophilicity in the catechyl-phosphonite favor their cyclization and also direct 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to afford single regioisomers of substituted products. Coupling the generation of the dipoles with 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition offers a unique, modular route to furans from combinations of available aldehydes, acid chlorides and alkynes with independent control of all four substituents.

A new class of phosphorus-containing 1,3-dipoles has been developed, which, when coupled with cycloaddition, offers modular synthesis of furans with independent control of all four substituents.     

Enantioselective [1,2]-Stevens rearrangement of thiosulfonates to construct dithio-substituted quaternary carbon centers

An enantioselective [1,2] Stevens rearrangement was realized by using chiral guanidine and copper(i) complexes. Bis-sulfuration of α-diazocarbonyl compounds was developed through using thiosulfonates as the sulfenylating agent. It was undoubtedly an atom-economic process providing an efficient route to access novel chiral dithioketal derivatives, affording the corresponding products in good yields (up to 90% yield) and enantioselectivities (up to 96 : 4 er). A novel catalytic cycle was proposed to rationalize the reaction process and enantiocontrol.

An asymmetric [1,2] Stevens rearrangement was realized via chiral guanidine and copper(i) complexes. A series of novel chiral dithioketal derivatives were obtained with good yields (up to 90% yield) and enantioselectivities (up to 96 : 4 er).     

1,3-Dipolar cycloadditions of nonstabilized azomethine ylides to planar chalcones via regio- and stereoselective route: A three-component strategy

Simple and efficient strategies toward the synthesis of trisubstituted pyrrolizidines and disubstituted oxazolidine systems by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions using arylaldehydes and α-amino acids have been developed, followed by a one-pot, three-component strategy. Electron-deficient dipolarophiles, chalcones, were reacted with nonstabilized azomethine ylides derived from arylaldehyde and L-proline in dry dimethyl formamide, leading to substituted pyrrolizidines. The route to substituted oxazolidines involved cycloaddition to the C?O bond of a second molecule of the aldehyde. The structures and stereochemistry of the cycloadducts were established by infrared (IR), NMR spectroscopy, and single-crystal x-ray crystallographic analyses. Condensed Fukui functions and local electrophilicity indices have been computed to characterize the reactive sites and predict the preferred interactions of azomethine ylides to planar chalcones. The softness-matching indices have been evaluated to determine the regioselectivity of the cycloaddition reactions. The theoretical predictions were found to be in complete agreement with the experimental results, implying that the density functional theory (DFT)-based reactivity indices correctly predict the regioselectivities of 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of azomethine ylides to planar chalcones. The frontier molecular orbital (FMO) energies, electronic chemical potentials, chemical hardness, chemical softness, and global electrophilicity indices of azomethine ylides have been calculated at the DFT/B3LYP/6-31 + G (d, p) level of theory.     

Synthesis of Novel Dispiro 1,4-Benzothiazine Hybrid Heterocycles Through 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides generated in situ from the reaction of acenaphthylene-1,2-dione or isatins and α-amino acids to (E)-methyl/ethyl 2-(3-oxo-3,4-dihydro-2H-benzo[b][1,4]thiazin-2-ylidene)acetate led to the stereoselective formation of novel dispiro 1,4-benzothiazine hybrid heterocycles in good yields.     

Thermolysis of 1-phthalimidoaziridine-2-carbonitriles in the presence of dipolarophiles

Thermolysis of trans-3-phenyl-1-phthalimidoaziridine-2-carbonitrile and trans-1-phthalimidoaziridine-2,3-dicarbonitrile in the presence of several dipolarophiles involves 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition to intermediate azomethine ylides and leads to 1-phthalimidopyrrolidine derivatives with good yields and high stereoselectivity. Thermally induced opening of the three-membered ring in trans-2,3-disubstituted 1-phthalimidoaziridines occurs in conrotatory mode to produce the corresponding cis-azomethine ylides in keeping with the orbital symmetry conservation rules. The relative configuration of substituents in the dipolarophiles is retained, which implies concerted mechanism of the addition.     

Understanding of chiral site-dependent enantioselective identification on a plasmon-free semiconductor based SERS substrate

Chiral differentiation is an important topic in diverse fields ranging from pharmaceutics to chiral synthesis. The improvement of sensitivity and the elucidation of the mechanism of chiral recognition are still the two main challenges. Herein, a plasmon-free semiconductive surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrate with sensitive chiral recognition ability is proposed for the discrimination of enantiomers. A homochiral environment is constructed by typical π–π stacking between l-tryptophan (l-Trp) and phenyl rings on well-aligned TiO₂ nanotubes (TiO₂ NTs). Using 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) enantiomers as the targets and the chelating interaction of Fe³⁺–DOPA for the onsite growth of Prussian blue (PB), the enantioselectivity difference between l-DOPA and d-DOPA on the homochiral substrate can be directly monitored from PB signals in the Raman-silent region. By combining the experimental results with molecular dynamic (MD) simulations, it is found that satisfactory enantioselective identification not only requires a homochiral surface but also largely depends on the chiral center environment-differentiated hydrogen-bond formation availability.

An intelligent enantioselective identification strategy is designed to demonstrate that both enantioselectivity and stereoselectivity are crucial factors for chiral sensing.     

1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of 2- and 3-nitroindoles with azomethine ylides. A new approach to pyrrolo[3,4-b]indoles

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of unstabilized azomethine ylides with 2- and 3-nitroindoles furnishes the expected hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-b]indole cycloadducts in good to excellent yields. The cycloadducts can be denitrated with Bu₃SnH/AIBN, and cycloadduct 5 was oxidized with MnO₂ to yield the known pyrrolo[3,4-b]indole 13.     

Expeditious synthesis of bicyclic pyrrolidine/pyrrolizidine/thiazolidine grafted macrocycles through intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

Stereoselective synthesis of bicyclic pyrrolidine and pyrrolizidine grafted macrocycles has been accomplished through intramolecular 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) reaction. Alkenyl aldehydes 4a–b derived from salicylaldehyde have been reacted with secondary aminoacids to generate azomethine ylides which in turn were trapped intramolecularly by suitably placed dipolarophiles to give the corresponding macrocycle in moderate yield. The structures were assigned by 2D NMR spectra and the regio- and stereochemical outcome of the cycloadducts was established by a single crystal X-ray analysis of one of the products.     

Efficient Methods for the Synthesis of Benzopyrano[3,4-c]pyrrolidines by Catalyzed 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of Azomethine Ylides with 3-Substituted Coumarins

With triethylamine as a catalyst, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with 3-substituted coumarins proceeded smoothly under mild conditions to afford the desired products benzopyrano[3,4-c]pyrrolidines in good to excellent yields.      

Kinetic trapping of a cobalt(ii) metallocage using a carbazole-containing expanded carbaporphyrinoid ligand

The meso-unsubstituted expanded porphyrinoid 3, incorporating two carbazole moieties, acts as an effective ligand for Co(ii) and permits the isolation and X-ray diffraction-based characterization of a 6 : 3 metal-to-ligand metallocage complex that converts spontaneously to the constituent 2 : 1 metal-to-ligand metalloring species in chloroform solution. The discrete metalloring is formed directly when the Co(ii) complex is crystallized from supersaturated solutions, whereas crystallization from more dilute solutions favors the metallocage. Studies with two other test cations, Pd(ii) and Zn(ii), revealed exclusive formation of the monomeric metalloring complexes with no evidence of higher order species being formed. Structural, electrochemical and UV-vis-NIR absorption spectral studies provide support for the conclusion that the Pd(ii) complex is less distorted and more effectively conjugated than its Co(ii) and Zn(ii) congeners, an inference further supported by TD-DFT calculations. The findings reported here underscore how expanded porphyrins can support coordination modes, including bimetallic complexes and self-assembled cage structures, that are not necessarily easy to access using more traditional ligand systems.

Carbazole containing expanded carbaporphyrinoid ligand supports the formation of 2 : 1 metal-to-ligand complexes with Pd, Co, and Zn. Solid-state studies also revealed formation of a 6 : 3 metal-to-ligand metallocage in the case of Co complexation.     

Monofluoro-substituted azomethine ylides in fluorocarbene reactions with imines. Synthesis and transformations of monofluoroaziridines

N-Arylmethylene and N-benzhydrylideneamines react with fluorocarbene yielding fluoro-substituted azomethine ylides that undergo 1,3-π-cyclization into aziridines. Generation of fluoroylides in the presence of dipolarophiles (dimethyl maleate or dimethyl acetylenedicarboxylate) led to the reaction of 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition resulting in substituted 2-pyrrolines or pyrroles. 2-Fluoroaziridines, products of N-alkyl-N-benzhydrylideneamines 1,3-π-cyclization, in the presence of acid catalysts suffer isomerization into α-fluoroimines and 1,3-disubstituted indoles.     

Bis-sulfonyl ethylene as masked acetylene equivalent in catalytic asymmetric [3 + 2] cycloaddition of azomethine ylides

Enantioenriched 3-pyrrolines have been synthesized by highly enantioselective Fesulphos-Cu-catalyzed 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of azomethine ylides with trans-1,2-bisphenylsulfonyl ethylene, followed by reductive sulfonyl elimination. High levels of reactivity, exoselectivity, and enantioselectivity have been accomplished for a variety of substituted azomethine ylides. This cycloaddition-desulfonylation strategy has been applied as a key step in the enantioselective synthesis of a biologically active C-azanucleoside.     

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis of enantioenriched α-deuterated pyrrolidine derivatives

The recent promising applications of deuterium-labeled pharmaceutical compounds have led to an urgent need for the efficient synthetic methodologies that site-specifically incorporate a deuterium atom into bioactive molecules. Nevertheless, precisely building a deuterium-containing stereogenic center, which meets the requirement for optimizing the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET) properties of chiral drug candidates, remains a significant challenge in organic synthesis. Herein, a catalytic asymmetric strategy combining H/D exchange (H/D-Ex) and azomethine ylide-involved 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) was developed for the construction of biologically important enantioenriched α-deuterated pyrrolidine derivatives in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities and uniformly high levels of deuterium incorporation. Directly converting glycine-derived aldimine esters into the deuterated counterparts with D₂O via Cu(i)-catalyzed H/D-Ex, and the subsequent thermodynamically/kinetically favored cleavage of the α-C–H bond rather than the α-C–D bond to generate the key N-metallated α-deuterated azomethine ylide species for the ensuing 1,3-DC are crucial to the success of α-deuterated chiral pyrrolidine synthesis. The current protocol exhibits remarkable features, such as readily available substrates, inexpensive and safe deuterium source, mild reaction conditions, and easy manipulation. Notably, the synthetic utility of a reversed 1,3-DC/[H/D-Ex] protocol has been demonstrated by catalytic asymmetric synthesis of deuterium-labelled MDM2 antagonist idasanutlin (RG7388) with high deuterium incorporation.

A strategy of combining H/D-Ex and azomethine ylide-involved 1,3-DC was developed for the construction of α-deuterated pyrrolidine derivatives in good yields with excellent stereoselectivities and uniformly high levels of deuterium incorporation.     

Diastereoselective and enantioselective photoredox pinacol coupling promoted by titanium complexes with a red-absorbing organic dye

The pinacol coupling reaction, a reductive coupling of carbonyl compounds that proceeds through the formation of ketyl radicals in the presence of an electron donor, affords the corresponding 1,2-diols in one single step. The photoredox version of this transformation has been accomplished using different organic dyes or photoactive metal complexes in the presence of sacrificial donors such as tertiary amines or Hantzsch''s ester. Normally, the homo-coupling of such reactive ketyl radicals is neither diastereo- nor enantio-selective. Herein, we report a highly diastereoselective pinacol coupling reaction of aromatic aldehydes promoted by 5 mol% of the non-toxic, inexpensive and available Cp₂TiCl₂ complex. The key feature that allows the complete control of diastereoselectivity is the employment of a red-absorbing organic dye in the presence of a redox-active titanium complex. Taking advantage of the well-tailored photoredox potential of this organic dye, the selective reduction of Ti(iv) to Ti(iii) is achieved. These conditions enable the formation of the d,l (syn) diastereoisomer as the favored product of the pinacol coupling (d.r. > 20 : 1 in most of the cases). Moreover, employing a simply prepared chiral SalenTi complex, the new photoredox reaction gave a complete diastereoselection for the d,l diastereoisomer, and high enantiocontrol (up to 92% of enantiomeric excess).

A metallaphotoredox, diastereoselective and enantioselective pinacol coupling reaction promoted by titanium complexes with the use of a red-absorbing organic dye was developed.     

Asymmetric synthesis of multifunctionalized pyrrolines by a ruthenium porphyrin-catalyzed three-component coupling reaction

[reaction: see text] Chiral multifunctionalized pyrrolines have been synthesized by a ruthenium porphyrin catalyzed three-component coupling reaction. In a one-pot reaction, ruthenium porphyrins catalyzed in situ generation of chiral azomethine ylides from chiral diazo esters and imines. Asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of the chiral azomethine ylides with dipolarophiles afforded the corresponding pyrrolines in good yields and high diastereoselectivity (up to 92% de).     

Asymmetric transformations from sulfoxonium ylides

Sulfoxonium ylides are important surrogates for diazo compounds, and their use in industry as safer alternatives has been evaluated during recent years. Beyond the known classical transformations, these ylides have also been used in a surprising plethora of novel and intrinsic chemical reactions, especially in recent years. Bench stability and handling are also an advantage of this class of organosulfur molecules. Despite this, efficient asymmetric transformations, specifically catalytic enantioselective versions, have only recently been reported, and there are specific reasons for this. This perspective article covers this topic from the first studies up to the latest advances, giving personal perspectives and showing the main challenges in this area in the coming years.

Asymmetric transformations involving sulfoxonium ylides, culminating in catalytic enantioselective versions, are discussed in this perspective.     

Construction of Pyrrolidinyl Spirooxindoles via a 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction of (E)-N-Boc-3-Alkylidene-Indolin-2(3H)ones with Azomethine Ylides

A mild and efficient method for the construction of pyrrolidinyl spirooxindoles via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of (E)-N-Boc-3-alkylidene-indolin-2(3H)ones with azomethine ylides has been established. The presence of an N-Boc group in the indolin-2(3H)ones obviously increased the activity and stereoselectivity of the reaction, affording the desired pyrrolidinyl spirooxindoles 4 with up to 85% yield and up to >99/1 dr value. Furthermore, the antibacterial activity of these compounds against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC-25825) has been tested at minimum concentration, and some of them exhibit moderate antibacterial activity.

[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Synthetic Communications® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]     

Stereodivergent synthesis of enantioenriched azepino[3,4,5-cd]-indoles via cooperative Cu/Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation and intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction

The development of enantioselective annulation reactions using readily available substrates for the construction of structurally and stereochemically diverse heterocycles is a compelling topic in diversity-oriented synthesis. Herein, we report efficient catalytic asymmetric formal 1,3-dipolar (3 + 4) cycloadditions of azomethine ylides with 4-indolyl allylic carbonates for the construction of azepino[3,4,5-cd]-indoles fused with a challenging seven-membered N-heterocycle, a frequently occurring tricyclic indole scaffold in bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals. Through cooperative Cu/Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation followed by intramolecular Friedel–Crafts reaction, an array of azepino[3,4,5-cd]-indoles were obtained in good yields with excellent diastereo-/enantioselective control. More importantly, the full stereodivergence of this transformation was established via synergistic catalysis followed by acid-promoted epimerization, and up to eight stereoisomers of the cycloadducts bearing three stereogenic centers could be predictably achieved from the same set of starting materials for the first time. Quantum mechanical computations established a plausible mechanism for the synergistic Cu/Ir catalysis to stereodivergently introduce two vicinal stereocenters whose stereochemical information is remotely delivered across the fused azepine ring to control the third chiral center. Epimerization of the last center involves protonation-enabled reversal of the thermodynamically controlled relative configuration.

A stereodivergent synthesis of azepino[3,4,5-cd]-indoles bearing three stereogenic centers was established via synergistic dual-metal catalysis followed by acid-promoted epimerization, and up to all eight stereoisomers could be predictably achieved.     

Dynamic kinetic resolution of transient hemiketals: a strategy for the desymmetrisation of prochiral oxetanols

Identification of an electron poor trifluoroacetophenone allows the formation of uniquely stable hemiketals from prochiral oxetanols. When exposed to a cobalt(ii) catalyst, efficient ring-opening to densely functionalized dioxolanes is observed. Mechanistic studies suggest an unprecedented redox process between the cobalt(ii) catalyst and the hemiketal that initiates the oxetane-opening. Based on this observation, a dynamic kinetic resolution of the transient hemiketals is explored that uses a Katsuki-type ligand for stereoinduction (up to 99 : 1 dr and 96 : 4 er) and allows a variety of 1,3-dioxolanes to be accessed (20 examples up to 98% yield).

Desymmetrization of prochiral oxetanols via an electron-deficient hemiketal intermediate is achieved. Key to this process is the catalyst''s chiral recognition of one of the two hemiketal enantiomers enabling an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution.